2012 Student Winners of Promote the Vote

Jackson, MS–Secretary of State Delbert Hosemann honored individual student and school winners of the 2012 Promote the Vote contests, amid school officials, legislators and supporters.

“Promote the Vote is an integral component of our voter education initiatives,” says Secretary Hosemann.  “By getting our youth engaged civically at an early age, they are more apt to become avid voters when they turn 18.”

Promote the Vote is a comprehensive voter education program sponsored by the Mississippi Secretary of State’s Office.  The project is designed to teach the fundamentals of our democracy to K-12 students and to encourage civic responsibility.  Participation in the program helps students improve their political decision-making abilities and increases their interests in current issues.

The program includes a statewide mock election, student competitions, a complete voter education curriculum and special events designed to recognize students and their teachers.

In 2012, the Promote the Vote program had the largest number of students and school districts participants since its inception in 1996. More than 540 schools and 211,700 students took part, including almost 100,000 who cast ballots in the online Mock Election for president during the week preceding the November General Election.

More than 200 student entries were received in the 2012 PTV contests.
Winners are as follows:

Overall PTV Model School
Starkville High School, Starkville

PTV Model School, Second Congressional District
St. Richard Catholic School, Jackson

PTV Model School, Third Congressional District
Raleigh Elementary School, Raleigh

PTV Statewide Individual Award
Rex Ames, Starkville High School

Art, Grade K-2

1st Place
Mattie Dupuy
Madison Avenue Elementary, Madison

2nd Place
John Aidan Thomas
Madison Avenue Elementary, Madison

3rd Place
Ian Robinson
Madison Avenue Elementary, Madison

Art, Grade 3-5

1st Place
Ella Kitchens
St. Richard Catholic School, Jackson

2nd Place
Maggie Lee
St. Richard Catholic School, Jackson

3rd Place
Seth Russo
North Bay Elementary, Bay St. Louis

Art, Grade 6-8

1st Place
Jack Winstead
St. Richard Catholic School, Jackson

2nd Place
Japhia Jefferson
Olde Towne Middle School, Ridgeland

3rd Place
Mackenzie Sims
Brandon Middle School, Brandon

Art, Grade 9-12

1st Place
Deja Pocahontas Mayes
Independence High School, Independence

2nd Place
Alexis Taylor
Puckett Attendance Center, Puckett

3rd Place
Kayley Pennington
Puckett Attendance Center, Puckett

Political Cartoon, Grade 6-8

1st Place
Chip Purviance
Brandon Middle School, Brandon

Political Cartoon, Grade 9-12

1st Place
Naol Debele
Piney Woods School, Piney Woods

Essay, Grade 6-8

1st Place
Grace Robinson
Brandon Middle School, Brandon

2nd Place
Jerome Coley
Coahoma County Junior High, Clarksdale

3rd Place
Xavier Person
Brandon Middle School, Brandon

Essay, Grade 9-12

1st Place
Alli Ridilla
Heritage Academy, Columbus

2nd Place
Ashley Allsup
Heritage Academy, Columbus

3rd Place
Savannah Coleman
Biloxi High School, Biloxi

We would also like to commend several students for their outstanding talents who received Honorable Mention:

Makhya Weatherspoon, Art, K-2
Cook Fine Arts Magnet School, Columbus
Tyrus Hall, Art, 3-5
Newton Municipal School District, Newton
T’Yana McLendon, Art, 3-5
Lyon Elementary School, Lyon
Kymeron Bee, Art, 3-5
Jonestown Elementary, Jonestown
Jacquanza Tate, Art, 3-5
Friars Point Elementary School, Friars Point
Destinee Conrad, Art, 6-8
Coahoma County Jr. High, Clarksdale
Hannah Wegner, Art, 9-12
Stone High School, Wiggins
Brandi Anderson, Art, 9-12
Puckett Attendance Center, Puckett
June Clare Pilcher, Essay, 9-12
Madison Ridgeland Academy, Madison
Bridget Harkins, Essay, 9-12
Miss. School for the Blind, Jackson
Katy Kollister, Essay, 9-12
St. Martin High School, Ocean Springs